All restaurants across the country will be made smoke-free soon. About 28% people are being affected due to smoking in restaurants. Restaurants must be included as public places through amendment of the existing law.
Speakers said this at a Sensitization Meeting with the members of Bangladesh Restaurant Owners’ Association organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) with financial assistance from Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids at the Conference Room of DAM at 11 A.M. on 19 February, 2012.
Speakers further said, 69 out of 7000 chemical elements are directly responsible for cancer. In the meantime, hotel and restaurants of various countries are being freed from smoking. This is why, it is essential to make the restaurants of Bangladesh smoke-free.
DAM President Kazi Rafiqul Alam presided over while Bangladesh Restaurant Owners’ Association President Kamar Uddin Ahmed was present as Chief Guest. Bangladesh Restaurant Owners’ Association Secretary General M Rezaul Karim Sarker was present as Special Guest.
The Project Coordinator of AMIC, A K M Anisuzzaman, was present as the Main Speaker. Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids Coordinator Taifur Rahman, DAM Assistant Director Iqbal Masud, Bangladesh Restaurant Owners’ Association’s Joint Secretary General Aminur Rahman, Joint Organising Secretary Shah Md Ibrahim and Publicity Secretary Abdul Khaleq took part in the panel discussion.
In his presidential address, Kazi Rafiqul Alam said, we are eager to continuously work with the Restaurant Owners’ Association in anti-tobacco movement. He called upon all to turn anti-tobacco activities into a social movement.

All must work together to reach healthcare service to people’s doorsteps. This is why, non-governmental organisations’ support to government efforts is essential. Vigilance on enactment of Anti-Tobacco Act will be geared up. The law and order enforcement authorities have been instructed to this effect.
Home Minister advocate Shahara Khatun MP said this while addressing as chief guest at a cancer awareness seminar held at Dhanmondi Mission Bhaban auditorium under the aegis of Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital marking World Cancer Day on 04 February, 2012. This year’s theme is “Together, We Are Stronger.’
She also said, healthcare service should be treated as public service, not as commercial one. I welcome Ahsania Mission for its efforts to reach healthcare service to the doorsteps of people.
Dhaka Ahsania Mission President Kazi Rafiqul Alam presided over while Safia Khatun, MP, and Deena Haque, former Director General of Prime Minister’s Office were present as special guests.
Prof Dr Harun-ar Rashid, Surgical Oncologist of Mirpur Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital presented the key-note paper. Brig Gen (retd) Dr Syed Fazle Rahim, Director of Mirpur Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital delivered the Welcome Address.
In his presidential Address, Dhaka Ahsania Mission President Kazi Rafiqul Alam said, media should come forward to build awareness on prevention of cancer. This should be turned into a social movement. Prevention of cancer is possible if government and non-government organisations work in a concerted manner. Efforts are underway to initially commission the Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital by the end of this year.
Cancer specialists, doctors, nurses, media personalities and high officials of various government and non-government organisations attended.

All must have to work in close coordination with others for the sake of development. Everyone should unearth his/her potentiality. Then the award follows you.
Efforts should be made for knowing on the top of what is already known.
Kazi Rafiqul Alam, President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), said this while addressing as Chief Guest at the DAM Best Performance Award-2011 giving ceremony held at the Mission Bhaban auditorium in the city on 7 January, 2012.
He further said that it is not shame to acquire knowledge, rather a pride. Lack of sincere and active worker hurts all.
DAM Executive Director Dr M Ehsanur Rahman presided over while Chairman of the Selection Committee of DAM and Vice President Prof M H Khan was present as Special Guest.
Head of Administration & Human Resource Division Anwar Hossain delivered the Welcome Address. Director of Programme Division Shafiqul Islam also spoke on the occasion.
In his presidential address, DAM Executive Director Dr M Ehsanur Rahman said that DAM Best Performance Award giving ceremony is the only worker-centred function of the organisation. The qualities of the awardee will remain as a source of inspiration for other employees of the mission.
Md Asaduzzaman, Assistant Director of Programme Division, was adorned with DAM Best Performance Award-2011.
Kazi Rafiqul Alam, President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), handed over the DAM Best Performance Award-2011 to the awardee, as Chief Guest. Valuation of the award is a cheque for Tk 25,000, a crest and a certificate.
While expressing his feelings, Md Asaduzzaman said, Always I have worked with utmost responsibility. Activity was a source of joy to me which is a chain process. This is why, we should work in close coordination with others, not alone.

The Creativity Manager of Proportion Foundation, Lieke Pijper, and the Product Manager of
Technological organization Voltea , Kim Visser, have Conducted a research work with partnership of DAM WatSan on Prospect of Extension of Social Business through Community Management at Baksa village in Kalaroa upazila of Satkhira district under “SuJol: the Bangladesh Project”. The project was undertaken for supply of pure water to poor people in rural areas and extension of social business under community management of WatSan Sub-sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission. Coordinator Social Mobilisation (CSM) of WatSan M M Ahidul Islam Kazal and Field Coordinator Md Rafiqul Islam assisted in the research work. The research team also met Mr. M.A Samad, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Satkhira. They also discussed with the Upazila Health Officer, Union Parishad Chairman, ward members and people from poor community for their opinion on implementation of the work. It is to be mentioned here that SuJol Project is being implemented with financial assistance of the Royal Government of the Netherlands and with partnership of the Ecological Management Foundation (EMF), Netherlands. Dhaka Ahsania Mission is the key partner for the project implementation in the field. Kim Visser conducted the first field trial of 'CapDI,' in front of the Hotathgonj High School where the plant is installed in the land donated by the school Management Committee. Project Engineer Md Irfan and Field Engineer Shantanu Kar assisted in the programme activities. The team leader of WatSan Sub-sector, Engr. Imam Mahmud Riad, supervised the overall activities. Alongside purification of excess arsenic and saline, the plant will be capable to purify the water by removing at least 51 harmful constituents through its cutting edge technology namely ‘CapDI’.

Keita Kanoke, a Japanese student of Social Science Faculty in Hose University, Japan, has done internship for a month in Dhaka Ahania Mission's (DAM) Micro-finance programme.
As part of his degree course, he did the internship through Bangladesh Reading Association, in the entire month of November, 2011. His subjects were micro-credit programme and women's empowerment. During internship period, the Japanese student visited various branches of DAM's Micro-finance programme. He also conducted a study on the beneficiaries of Micro-finance programme to have a clear concept on participation of rural women in micro-credit programme and procedure of women's empowerment.

A representative of Addiction Management & Integrated Care (AMIC) of Dhaka Ahsania Mission will take part at 15th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, scheduled to be held in Singapore on 20-24 March, 2012. Iqbal Masud, Assistant Director of AMIC, will place two selected reports at the world conference. The reports are: Awareness Through Community Involvement Can Make a Significant Impact on Policy Changes in National Level: Dhaka Ahsania Mission Experience and A Study on Effectiveness of Pictorial Warning Message on Tobacco Packets to Reduce Tobacco Use. Earlier, AMIC representatives took part at 12th, 13th and 14th world conference.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) has topped list of annual evaluation test of Basic Education for Hard to Reach Urban Working Children (BEHTRUWC) Project implemented by 20 non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The evaluation test was done by a team headed by Prof M A Malek of the Institute of Education and Research (IER) of Dhaka University.
A total of 40 educational centres, each having two centres, were selected from 20 implementing organisations. Written and viva-voce tests were also held for the purpose.
DAM has successfully implemented the project in 363 educational centres, with 100, 100, 50, 63 educational centres in first, second, third and fourth stages. The project was implemented in six divisional towns including Narayanganj and Gazipur district towns.
DAM implemented BEHTRUWC Project in collaboration with Non-formal Education (NFE) Bureau.

Acceleration of movement at community, state and international level is essential to combat the adverse effects of climate change. Alongside combating disaster, coordinated efforts should be taken to resolve the economic and food crisis. Chairman of Privatisation Commission, Dr Mirza Abdul Jalil, said this while addressing as Chief Guest at an International Level Sharing Meeting on Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation organised under the aegis of Concern Universal-Bangladesh, in Partnership with 67 partner NGOs, at SETARA Convention Hall, Mirpur 11½, in the capital at 9.30 am on 20 December, 2011.
He further stressed on a bold role at government and non-governmental level to combat the adverse effects of climate change and reduce risk of disaster through creating a strong network in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, China and Bhutan.
Speakers said, Concern Universal conducted trainings on Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction, local participation, resource collection and strategy for their usage, participatory monitoring and evaluation to strengthen capacity of 67 partner organisations of Bangladesh, India and Nepal in last 19 months. Three lakh beneficiaries from seven divisions of Bangladesh, India and Nepal have been brought under the ‘Capacity Strengthening on Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation’ Project. The activities will be extended to China and Bhutan.
Chaired by the Executive Director of ‘Friendship,’ Runa Khan, the inaugural session was addressed by the Director General of National Academy for Planning and Development, Bangladesh, Dr M A Kamal and the Advisor for Cordaid-India, Munish Kaushik. Head of Education, Concern Universal-Bangladesh, Abdul Hamid, delivered the Welcome Speech.
Prof Dr M Shahidul Islam, Department of Geography & Environment, Dhaka University, Convener, State IAG, Paschim Banga, Father Reggie Fernandes and President, JCYCN, Nepal, Tilottam Paudel addressed at the second session.
Executive Director, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, Dr Atiq Rahman, Executive Director, PIDIM Foundation, Advin Barun Banerjee, journalist of Himalayan TV, Nepal, Kapil Dev Kafle and Executive Director, AVAS, Rahima Sultana Kazal addressed at the third session. A video documentary on Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation was displayed. Executive Director, SLARTC, Paschim Banga, India, Manabendra Mondol addressed at the closing session.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) signed an accord with seven national NGOs to implement non-formal primary education (NFPE) through UNIQUE-2 Project at Dhanmondi Mission Bhaban auditorium at 3 PM on 18 December, 2011.
DAM will work, in collaboration with Plan Bangladesh, in partnership with SOD, CCDB, Dorp, Padakkhep Manobik Unnyan Kendro, Surovi, Verd and Ipsa in 84 upazilas of 26 districts to gear up government’s Education for All programme.
DAM Executive Director Dr M Ehsanur Rahman and chiefs of the aforesaid NGOs signed the accord on behalf of their respective organisations.
During the accord signing ceremony, DAM Executive Director Dr M Ehsanur Rahman urged all to come forward to prevent school dropouts for ensuring Education for All. UNIQUE-2 Project will play a vital role in bringing school dropouts under the fold of government’s 3rd Primary Education Development Programme.
He further said that especially coastal Char areas, haor, inaccessible hilly areas of Chittagong hill districts and slum areas of Narayanganj and Gazipur districts will remain under the programme. Under the project, 2,05, 912 school dropout children and 30,000 backward children of primary schools will get an opportunity of education. Besides, 61,475 children will come under the fold of pre-school programme.
In the meantime, UNIQUE Project has immensely contributed towards implementing quality primary education to children through multigrade teaching and learning system thereby building capacity of targeted beneficiaries.

A communication and relationship development meeting on climate change and disaster risk reduction was held with members of Union Disaster Management Committee (UDMC) and Communication Action Group (CAG) at the meeting room of Chandpai Union Parishad (UP) under Mongla upazila in Bagerhat district on 13 December, 2011.
Held under the aegis of Improved Food and Livelihood Support in the Context of Climate Change in Bagerhat district (IFLS) Project of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, the meeting was presided by acting UP chairman Agnesh Sarder. Disaster related Adviser of CAFOD UK, Kait Crowly and Consultant of CAFOD UK, Md Khalid Hossain were present as special guests.
Programme Coordinator of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Md Mokhlesur Rahman, field coordinator Uzzal Kumar Kundu, field worker of CARITAS Bangladesh, Rebeka Snigdha Baroi, field officer Biswajit Biswas and UDMC and CAG members of the same union were also present.
Disaster related adviser of CAFOD UK, Kait Crowly, expressed his firm optimism saying that disaster risk reduction is possible in the locality through coordinated efforts of CAG and UDMC.